Appendix P: 

Public Services and Utilities

Discipline Report

Point Defiance Bypass 

Project

Public Services and 

Utilities Discipline Report

September 2012
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Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report Page i

Table of Contents

Summary..........................................................................................................................................................1

Affected Environment..................................................................................................................................1

Potential Effects ..........................................................................................................................................1

Proposed Minimization Measures ...............................................................................................................3

Chapter 1 – Project Description .......................................................................................................................5

Introduction..................................................................................................................................................5

Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................................................5

What alternatives are being considered for the Point Defiance Bypass Project? ........................................6

What’s happening in the bypass corridor today?.........................................................................................6

What would happen if the Project were not built?........................................................................................7

What are the proposed improvements and related activities of the Point Defiance Bypass 

Project? .......................................................................................................................................................7

What are the proposed operational changes that would result from the Point Defiance Bypass 

Project? .......................................................................................................................................................8

Chapter 2 – Methodology...............................................................................................................................11

What is included in the report?..................................................................................................................11

How was the study area defined? .............................................................................................................11

How was the information collected?..........................................................................................................11

How were effects to public services and utilities from the Project evaluated?...........................................12

Chapter 3 – Studies and Coordination ...........................................................................................................13

What regulations apply?............................................................................................................................13

What studies and coordination were used in the public services and utilities analysis?............................13

Chapter 4 – Affected Environment .................................................................................................................15

What public services are found in the study area?....................................................................................15

What utility services are provided in the study area? ................................................................................33

Tacoma Amtrak Station.............................................................................................................................35

Chapter 5 – Project Effects ............................................................................................................................37

How were effects identified?......................................................................................................................37

What direct effects on public services and utilities were identified? ..........................................................37

What indirect and cumulative effects on public services and utilities were identified?...............................41

Chapter 6 – Recommended Minimization Measures......................................................................................43

What minimization is required for the No Build Alternative?......................................................................43

What minimization is required for the Build Alternative? ...........................................................................43

References.....................................................................................................................................................45
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List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1. Build Alternative Components ..........................................................................................................9

Exhibit 2. Public Facilities in the Study Area (Panels 1-10)............................................................................16

Exhibit 3. Educational Facilities in the Study Area .........................................................................................26

Exhibit 4. Pre-Schools and Day Care Facilities in the Study Area..................................................................27

Exhibit 5. Government, Social, and Medical Facilities in the Study Area .......................................................27

Exhibit 6. Religious Facilities in the Study Area .............................................................................................30

Exhibit 7. Cemeteries Located in the Study Area...........................................................................................31

Exhibit 8. Park-and-Ride Facilities Located in the Study Area .......................................................................32

Exhibit 9. Potential Utility Conflicts in Right of Way........................................................................................39

Exhibit 10. Potential Utility Conflicts at Intersections......................................................................................39
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Summary

Affected Environment

The Point Defiance Bypass Project (the Project) crosses through the cities 

of Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont. It also crosses military reservation 

land for Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) and is adjacent to Camp 

Murray. There are 26 public and private schools within the study area 

from the three school districts: Tacoma, Clover Park, and Steilacoom

Historical. All three school districts have schools in the study area that 

require busing across the study area. There are at least five medical 

facilities, two hospitals (Saint Clare Hospital and Madigan Army Medical 

Center), 11 recreational facilities, and two facilities for disadvantaged 

people in the study area. Fifty-two religious facilities were identified as 

were four cemeteries. Pierce Transit and Sound Transit provide public 

transportation services. 

Police services are provided by the City of Tacoma, City of Lakewood, 

and City of DuPont. The Puyallup Tribe police provide police services for 

the tribal properties. Fire services are provided by City of Tacoma, West 

Pierce Fire and Rescue, and City of DuPont. JBLM provides police and 

fire services on military installations only. 

There is a mix of private and public service providers for utilities. Utilities 

include water, wastewater, stormwater, solid waste, telephone, cable, 

internet, electricity, and gas. 

Potential Effects

Direct Project effects are primarily related to construction, and are minor 

and temporary in nature. No indirect or cumulative effects were identified 

for the Project. 

Construction Effects

Because the route is located in a separate right-of-way from general traffic 

except at intersections, most construction delays would occur during 

intersection construction with little to no effect during track upgrades 

outside of intersections with roadways. Delays for emergency vehicles and 

school and public buses would be similar to typical construction-related 

traffic. Access to public facilities located within the active construction 
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zone may be affected by either lane closures or increased traffic 

congestion. This would result in increased travel times to some facilities. 

These effects would be temporary and of short duration. 

Sound Transit has resolved the conflicts with utilities along the route from 

Bridgeport Way Southwest north to Freighthouse Square in Tacoma as 

part of their Sounder Track and Signal Improvement Projects. FRA, 

WSDOT, and Sound Transit have identified potential utility conflicts and 

relocation needs from the Clover Creek Drive intersection to the southern 

terminus of the Project. As part of construction south of but not including 

Bridgeport Way Southwest, utilities may need to be relocated, deepened 

and/or hardened within the railroad right-of-way. The specific effects 

would be identified during final design. 

Similar to construction delays described above, construction would be 

required to move the existing Tacoma Amtrak Station to the proposed 

Tacoma Dome Station at Freighthouse Square in Tacoma. Sound Transit 

uses Freighthouse Square as a hub for its Sounder, Tacoma Link, and bus 

services. Construction could affect traffic and access to local services as 

well as local utilities. 

Operational Effects

Operational effects would be similar for all the public service sectors 

including schools, emergency services, access to medical centers and 

government offices, and transit. The most common effect is traffic delays 

due to the seven daily round trips operated by Amtrak (total of 14 trains; 

12 Cascades trains and two Coast Starlight trains). Traffic delays are 

anticipated to be minor as the intersections are closed for approximately 

three minutes and intersections typically clear within one to two cycles of 

the traffic signal. For more detail on the delays and queues at the at-grade 

crossings, please refer to the Point Defiance Bypass Transportation 

Discipline Report.

1 Train or track malfunctions could cause an 

unanticipated intersection closure but these are not common, typically of 

short duration, and detours would be available. 

No permanent effects are anticipated for utilities. Utility owners may need 

to access their buried or aerial for maintenance and upgrades but this is 

unlikely to affect track operations or the community. 

Relocation of the Tacoma Amtrak station to the Tacoma Dome at 

Freighthouse Square would have minor permanent effects to public 

services or utilities related to the potential for increased traffic and parking 

needs. However, these needs would likely not be measurable when 

compared with the other transit needs for Sound Transit. 

 1 WSDOT 2011a
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Proposed Minimization Measures

Minor effects were identified for the Project construction and operation. 

Minor, short-term construction effects can be minimized with the 

following measures: 

• Coordinate and communicate with public service providers 

including school districts, emergency service organizations, and 

agencies such as Sound Transit to ensure that they are fully 

informed of construction progress and identify ways to minimize 

delays.

• Coordinate with utility owners to determine conflicts and 

determine a suitable resolution to avoid or minimize disruption. 

This will include coordination with the local fire department if 

there could be effects to fire suppression water and/or pressure. 

• Post construction schedules near affected crossings and provide the 

information to local newspapers for publication or to the local 

jurisdictions for distribution by mail to residents and businesses in 

the area. Project construction updates can also be posted on FRA 

or WSDOT’s Project website. 

Effects related to operation of the Project involve potential traffic delays, 

safety, and access issues at intersections. The Transportation Discipline 

Report2 presents minimization for safety concerns and travel time delays.

 2 WSDOT 2011a
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Chapter 1 – Project Description

Introduction

Under the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program and 

pursuant to a programmatic Tier I Environmental Assessment (EA) the 

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has approved an application from 

the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to improve 

the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor (PNWRC), a federally designated 

high-speed rail corridor. One project included in the PNWRC application 

is the Point Defiance Bypass Project (the Project), which would respond to 

deficiencies in the existing rail operations around Point Defiance. This 

Discipline Report has been prepared in support of the project-specific EA 

for the Point Defiance Bypass project.

The Project is located in Pierce County along an existing approximately 

20-mile rail corridor between Tacoma and Nisqually.3 The Project would 

provide for the re-routing of Amtrak passenger trains from the BNSF rail 

line that runs along the southern Puget Sound shoreline (Puget Sound 

route) to the Point Defiance Bypass route, an existing rail corridor that

runs along the west side of I-5. The Project would consist of railroad track 

and support facility improvements, and relocation of the Tacoma Amtrak 

Station to Freighthouse Square in Tacoma.

Purpose and Need

As described above, the Point Defiance Bypass route is part of the larger 

PNWRC. Within Washington State, the vision for the PNWRC is to 

“...improve intercity passenger rail service by reducing travel times and 

achieving greater schedule reliability in order to accommodate growing 

intercity travel demand...”4.

The purpose of the Project is to provide more frequent and reliable highspeed intercity passenger rail service along the PNWRC between Tacoma 

and Nisqually. In conformity with the decisions under the Tier 1 

Programmatic EA, the PNWRC Improvement Program has reduced the 

overall environmental effects of providing improved passenger rail service 

with the use of an existing transportation corridor and associated 

infrastructure, rather than creating a new corridor. 

 3 The three owners of the project corridor are Sound Transit, Tacoma Rail, and BNSF. 4 WSDOT 2009
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The Project is needed to address the deficiencies in the existing rail 

alignment around Point Defiance. The existing alignment (Puget Sound 

route), shared by freight and passenger rail traffic, is near capacity and is 

therefore unable to accommodate additional high-speed intercity 

passenger rail service without substantial improvements. In addition, the 

existing alignment has physical and operational constraints that adversely 

affect both passenger train scheduling and reliability.

Improving intercity passenger rail service in the project area and meeting 

the Project needs would be accomplished by:

• Enhanced Frequency: Increasing Amtrak Cascades round-trips from four 

to six by 2017 to meet projected service demands.

• Improved Reliability: Reducing scheduling conflicts with freight trains 

that often result in delays, and by minimizing or avoiding operational 

delays (e.g., drawbridge openings) and weather-related delays (e.g., 

mudslides), and improving on-time performance from 68 percent to 88 

percent.

• Enhanced Efficiency: Enhancing the efficient movement of people by 

decreasing trip times by 10 minutes, and reducing the amount of time 

passenger trains spend yielding to freight movements.

• Improved Safety: Constructing at-grade crossings with upgraded safety 

features, including wayside horns, median barriers, advance warning 

signals, and traffic signal improvements.

What alternatives are being considered for the Point 

Defiance Bypass Project?

FRA and WSDOT conducted an evaluation of three build alternatives: the 

Point Defiance Bypass Alternative, the Shoreline Alternative, and the 

Greenfield Alternative. Two of the alternatives (the Shoreline Alternative, 

and the Greenfield Alternative) were eliminated from further study. 

Although both alternatives could meet the Project’s purpose and need, 

they were determined to be impracticable and unfeasible due to technical 

constraints, high construction costs, and significant environmental effects. 

Grade separations were also evaluated for further consideration. FRA and 

WSDOT’s preliminary analysis revealed that current and projected future 

traffic volumes do not warrant the construction of new grade-separated 

crossings. 

What’s happening in the bypass corridor today?

The rail line between TR Junction and East “D” Street in Tacoma hosts 

both freight and commuter trains, including freight operators Tacoma Rail 

and BNSF, and Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter rail service. Freight 
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train traffic between TR Junction and East “D” Street averages under two 

trains per day, while Sound Transit currently operates 18 trains per day 

between Freighthouse Square and Seattle each weekday, and also offers 

occasional special event trains, usually on weekends, to serve sporting and 

other events in Seattle. Sounder service to Lakewood begins in late 2012.

What would happen if the Project were not built? 

If the Project were not built (the No Build Alternative), Amtrak’s 

Cascades and Coast Starlight passenger train service would continue to 

use the existing Puget Sound route. The No Build Alternative includes 

only the minor maintenance and repair activities necessary to keep the 

existing Puget Sound route operational. With the No Build Alternative, it 

would be expected that as freight traffic increases, congestion would 

adversely affect Amtrak service reliability, and the travel time for Amtrak 

trains between Seattle and Portland would increase.

Along the Point Defiance Bypass route, the Tacoma Rail and BNSF 

freight services would continue. The at-grade crossings at Clover Creek 

Drive Southwest, North Thorne Lane Southwest, Berkeley Street 

Southwest, 41st Division Drive, and Barksdale Avenue Southwest would 

not be upgraded.

Sound Transit’s Sounder commuter passenger trains will become 

operational in late 2012 between the Tacoma Dome Station at 

Freighthouse Square in Tacoma and Sound Transit’s Lakewood Station 

(on the Point Defiance Bypass route) with as many as 18 Sounder trains 

per day.

What are the proposed improvements and related activities

of the Point Defiance Bypass Project?

The Project consists of railroad track and support facility improvements, 

and the relocation of Amtrak’s Tacoma Station. Exhibit 1 shows the 

components of the Build Alternative. The following details specific 

components of the Build Alternative.

• Construct New Track Adjacent to the Existing Main Line – A new 

3.5-mile track adjacent to the existing main line would be constructed 

from South 66th Street (Rail MP 6.9) in Tacoma to between Bridgeport 

Way SW (Rail MP 10.4) and Clover Creek Drive SW (Rail MP 10.9) in 

Lakewood.

• Reconstruct and Rehabilitate the Existing Main Line – Starting just 

southwest of Bridgeport Way Southwest (Rail MP 10.4) in Lakewood, the 

existing track would be reconstructed to a location southeast of the I5/Mounts Road Southwest interchange (Rail MP 19.8) at Nisqually 

Junction.
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• Improvements at at-Grade Crossings – Several grade crossings would 

be improved with wayside horns, gates, traffic signals and signage, 

sidewalks, median separators, and warning devices. These crossings 

include Clover Creek Drive Southwest, North Thorne Lane Southwest, 

Berkeley Street Southwest, 41st Division Drive and Barksdale Avenue.

• Tacoma Amtrak Station Relocation – The existing Tacoma Amtrak 

Station would be relocated from its Puyallup Avenue location to the 

Tacoma Dome Station at Freighthouse Square, at 430 E. 25th Street in 

Tacoma.

What are the proposed operational changes that would 

result from the Point Defiance Bypass Project?

Amtrak’s existing Cascades and Coast Starlight passenger train service 

would be rerouted from the Puget Sound route along the Puget Sound 

shoreline to the Point Defiance Bypass route. The Project would also 

provide for additional Amtrak Cascades service by increasing the number 

of round trips provided from 4 to 6, or a total of 12 Cascades service train 

trips. Amtrak Coast Starlight would also travel on the Point Defiance 

Bypass route for a total of two Coast Starlight service train trips. The 

speed of these passenger trains would be up to 79 mph.
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Exhibit 1. Build Alternative Components
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Chapter 2 – Methodology

What is included in the report? 

This report covers Public Services and Utilities for the Project. Public 

services include police, fire, schools, churches, recreational facilities, and 

medical facilities. Utilities can be provided by public or private entities 

and include water, sewer, storm drainage, electricity, natural gas, and 

telecommunications. 

How was the study area defined?

The Project is located on an existing rail corridor starting at the TR 

Junction located near the Puyallup River and ending just north of the 

Nisqually River. The Project is located within Pierce County and traverses 

through cities of Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont, and JBLM. The study 

area for this discipline report is 1⁄2 mile on either side of the Project route. 

How was the information collected?

Multiple sources were used to collect information on the location and 

routing of public service providers and utilities. These sources include: 

• Publically available data and mapping. All mapped information 

was cross checked with at least one other source. 

o Pierce County mapping5

o Lakewood and Tacoma Fire District websites6

o For cemeteries, searching websites such as 

http://www.interment.net/ and USGenWeb Tombstones.org7, 8

o Google Earth9 

• 2010 Census data were collected from www.factfinder.census.gov.

• Data, including geographic information system (GIS) when 

available, from local jurisdictions through personal 

communications and their websites.

 5 Accessed June 15, 2011

6 www.cityoftacoma.org and www.westpierce.org Accessed June 15, 2011 7 Accessed June 2011.

8 http://www.usgwtombstones.org/washington/pierce.htm

9 Accessed June 2011
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How were effects to public services and utilities from the 

Project evaluated?

The methodology for evaluating effects on public services and utilities followed 

WSDOT’s Environmental Procedures Manual (EPM). This included collecting 

publically available data, verifying and mapping that data and analyzing the 

overlap of public services and utilities with the Project. 
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Chapter 3 – Studies and Coordination

What regulations apply?

Public services and utilities are required subject areas of the National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and State Environmental Policy Act 

(SEPA) as part of the potential effects on the human environment. 

While not a regulation, WSDOT’s Environmental Procedures Manual

Chapter 458 and associated website information provides guidance on the 

content and analysis that should be contained in this document. 

What studies and coordination were used in the public 

services and utilities analysis?

This report draws from and updates a 2007 technical memorandum for the 

corridor, which has been updated to include the extended project corridor 

and new information available. New information includes using the 2010 

census data and an updated review of the local jurisdiction and utility 

websites for new information. 

This report was prepared in coordination with other authors on the Point 

Defiance Bypass team, including those responsible for the transportation, 

land use, and socioeconomic analyses.
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Chapter 4 – Affected Environment

What public services are found in the study area?

Public services and utilities include a wide variety of facilities as well as 

access to those facilities. Following is a description of the existing 

facilities identified within 1⁄2 mile of the Project corridor. Exhibit 2

presents the locations of these facilities. 

Educational Facilities

The study area is served by three public school districts: Tacoma, Clover 

Park, and Steilacoom Historical school districts. Many of the students who 

attend these schools rely on bus transportation to and from school. 

Tacoma Public Schools serve more than 28,000 children in kindergarten 

through grade 12 in 65 schools. Many of the students who attend Manitou 

Park Elementary School, Gray Middle School, and Mount Tahoma High 

School live east of the study area while the schools are located west of the 

study area; as a result, many students would either cross the project 

corridor on a bus or through personal vehicles. 

Clover Park School District serves nearly 12,000 students in kindergarten 

through grade 12 in 28 schools.10 The Oakwood Elementary School, 

Lakeview Hope Academy, Tyee Park Elementary School, Tillicum 

Elementary School, and Beachwood Elementary bus coverage requires 

many of the students to cross the study area daily. Mann, Woodbrook, and 

Lochburn middle schools also require busing across the project corridor as 

do Clover Park and Lakes high schools.11

 10 http://www.cloverpark.k12.wa.us/Admin/AboutCPSD.aspx Accessed June 21, 2011. 11 http://www.schoolsiteonline.com/schoolsitelocator/?districtcode=49274 Accessed June 21, 2011. 
September 2012 Point Defiance Bypass Project

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Exhibit 2. Public Facilities in the Study Area (Panels 1-10)
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Steilacoom Historical School District is the oldest organized school 

district in Pierce County and serves about 4,600 students in 

pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in eight facilities.12 Students 

attending Pioneer Middle School may cross the project corridor while 

busing.13

There are also a number of church-based and private schools, and a 

college in the study area listed in Exhibit 3. Transportation is typically by 

personal vehicle, and the students attending these schools come from a 

wide area with an undetermined number crossing the project corridor. 

Exhibit 3. Educational Facilities in the Study Area

Education Facility Address City

Holy Rosary Catholic Elementary 

School

504 South 30th Street Tacoma

Grace Christian Academy 106 South 28th Street Tacoma

Tacoma Adventist School 1125 South 34th Street Tacoma

Grace Academy of Tacoma 3801 South Puget Sound Tacoma

Madison Middle School 3101 South 43rd Street Tacoma

Eugene P. Tone School 3110 South 43rd Street Tacoma

Edison Elementary School 5830 South Pine Street Tacoma

Visitation Church Elementary 3306 South 58th Street Tacoma

Mount Tahoma High School 6229 South Tyler Street Tacoma

Gray Middle School 6229 South Tyler Street Tacoma

Manitou Park Elementary School 4330 South 66th Street Tacoma

Hope School 7212 South Puget Sound Avenue Tacoma

Arlington Elementary School 3002 South 72nd Avenue Tacoma

Oakwood Elementary School 3230 85th Street South Lakewood

Clover Park Technical College 4500 Steilacoom Blvd Southwest Lakewood

Southgate Elementary 10202 Earley Avenue Southwest Lakewood

Lakeview Elementary School 10501 47th Avenue Southwest Lakewood

Tyee Park Elementary 11920 Seminole Rd Southwest Lakewood

Heartwood Elementary School 4010 Woodbrook Drive 

Southwest

Tacoma

Carter Lake Elementary School JBLM

Relife School 14721 Murray Rd Southwest Lakewood

Woodbrook Middle School 14920 Spring Street Southwest Lakewood

Tillicum Elementary 8514 Maple Street Southwest Lakewood

Evergreen Elementary 9010 Blaine Street JBLM

Hillside Elementary School 6399 Magnolia Blvd JBLM

Chloe Clark School (K-4) 1700 Palisade Blvd DuPont

Daycare and pre-school facilities identified in the study area are listed in 

Exhibit 4.

 12 http://www.steilacoom.k12.wa.us/do/asp/dist_info.asp Accessed June 21, 2011. 13 http://www.steilacoom.k12.wa.us/do/asp/busstops.asp Accessed June 21, 2011. 
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Exhibit 4. Pre-Schools and Day Care Facilities in the Study Area

Pre-school/Day Care Address City

Alphabet Pre-School and Daycare 2305 South Tacoma Way Tacoma

Alice’s Precious Jewels 3706 South Manitou Way Tacoma

Alphabet Pre-School and Daycare 5419 South Puget Sound 

Avenue

Tacoma

Precious Times Preschool 6436 South Tyler Street Tacoma

Rainbow Kids Child Care 6418 South Lawrence Street Tacoma

Gingerbread House Day Care 10922 Kline Street Southwest Tacoma

Kidz Academy Preschool & Learning Center 14924 Union Avenue 

Southwest

Lakewood

Just a Little Monkey Business 1150 Swan Loop DuPont

Government, Social, and Medical Facilities

This section identifies a variety of facilities including government 

facilities, social organizations, recreational facilities and parks, hospitals, 

and museums listed in Exhibit 5. 

Exhibit 5. Government, Social, and Medical Facilities in the Study Area

Facility Address City

Puyallup Tribe elder support and drug 

and alcohol treatment facility

2209 East 32nd Street Tacoma

Emerald Queen Casino 2024 East 29th Street Tacoma

Community Counseling Institute 2502 Tacoma Avenue South Tacoma

Tacoma Rescue Mission 425 South Tacoma Way Tacoma

Allenmore Public Golf Course 2125 South Cedar Street Tacoma

Tacoma Firs Golf Center 4504 South Tyler Street Tacoma

South Park South Tacoma Way Tacoma

South End Recreation Area South 60th Street and Adams 

Street

Tacoma

Saint Clare Hospital 11315 Bridgeport Way Southwest Lakewood

Springbrook Park 127th Street Southwest at 

Addison Street Southwest

Lakewood

Tacoma Country and Golf Club 13204 Country Club Drive 

Southwest

Lakewood

American Lake South County Park Woodlawn Avenue Southwest Lakewood

Community Health Care Tillicum 14916 Washington Avenue 

Southwest

Lakewood

JBLM JBLM

Camp Murray Militia Drive at Berkeley Street 

Southwest and Railroad Avenue

Tacoma

Madigan Army Medical Center 9040 Fitzsimmons Drive JBLM

Ft. Lewis Military Museum Accessed via Barksdale Avenue 

crossing

JBLM

DuPont City Hall is located on Barksdale 

Avenue

1700 Civic Drive DuPont

DuPont Medical Clinic 1175 Center Drive, Suite 130 DuPont

Eagles Pride Golf Course JBLM

Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge Olympia
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WPFR Station 20 could 

have restricted access to 

the west at the at-grade 

crossing on 108th Street 

Southwest.

WPFR Station 23 could 

have restricted access to 

the Thorne Lane at-grade 

crossing to I-5. 

Police and Emergency Services

Four jurisdictions provide fire and police protection 

within the study area: City of Tacoma, City of 

Lakewood, City of DuPont, and JBLM. In addition, 

the Pierce County Sheriff and Washington State 

Patrol support police services in the study area. The 

Puyallup Tribe also provides police services for tribal 

properties and members with the station located at 

East 29th Street and East Portland Avenue in Tacoma.

Only three police and fire department buildings are located within the 

project corridor. However, police and emergency services utilize the entire 

project corridor to respond to medical, fire, traffic, and other emergencies. 

Access from and to I-5 is critical for responders.

City of Tacoma

The City of Tacoma provides 24-hour police protection from its Sector 1 

and 3 precincts.14 Sector 1 is covered by the Central Substation located at 

1524 Martin Luther King Way. Sector 1 has a core staff of one 

Commander and three Community Liaison Officers that is supported by 

the four Tacoma Police-Business Improvement Area officers and the 

Operations/Patrol contingent comprising one Assistant Chief, one Captain, 

six Sergeants, and 50 Patrol Officers. Sector 3 Substation is located at 

1501 South 72nd Street. Sector 3 is staffed by one Commander, three 

Community Liaison Officers, eight Sergeants, and approximately 40 

Patrol Officers. 

Tacoma Fire has over 400 firefighters covering the city.15 There are 16 

engine companies, five of which are staffed with Advanced Life Support 

paramedics. All other uniformed field personnel are trained Basic Life 

Support responders. The Tacoma Fire Department Station 02, located at 

2701 Tacoma Avenue South, is the only facility within the study area. 

Access from the facility is not restricted by the Project. 

City of Lakewood

The City of Lakewood provides law enforcement services within the city 

limits from its headquarters located at 5504 112th Street Southwest in 

Lakewood.16 Lakewood has one of the largest departments in the state 

 14 http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=351 Accessed June 21, 2011. 15 http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=8015 Accessed June 21, 2011. 16

http://police.cityoflakewood.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=15
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while also being a relatively new police force created in 2004. The 

Lakewood Police Department consists of 123 full-time employees 

including one Chief, an assistant Chief, five Lieutenants, 14 Sergeants, 10 

Detectives, 70 Officers, 10 Limited Commission Officers, and 11 

civilians.

West Pierce Fire and Rescue (WPFR) provides fire and emergency 

services for the cities of Lakewood and University Place.17 There are 

seven stations in the district. Two fire stations are located in the study 

area: Station 20, 10928 Pacific Highway Southwest; and Station 23, 14505 

Grant Avenue Southwest. Station 20 is located just east of the at-grade 

crossing on 108th Street Southwest and Lakeview Avenue Southwest. 

Station 23 is located just west of the North Thorne Lane Southwest atgrade crossing for access to I-5. 

While the majority of Lakewood is located on the west side of I-5, there 

are two neighborhoods on the east side of I-5 that are the responsibility of 

the Lakewood Police Department and the Lakewood Fire District. The 

Springbrook area is accessible from Bridgeport Way Southeast. The 

American Lake Gardens neighborhood is accessed by North Thorne Lane 

Southwest.

City of DuPont

The City of DuPont Police Department is headquartered at 1780 Civic 

Drive, Suite 100. The department is staffed by one Chief, two Sergeants, a 

detective, a record specialist, and six Officers. The Fire Department is also 

located at 1780 Civic Drive Suite 100. It is staffed by the Chief, an 

Operations Chief, two Lieutenants, one acting Lieutenant, and nine 

firefighters.18

Joint Base Lewis McChord

As federal agencies, JBLM provides their own emergency services 

including police and fire operations. There are no inter-local agreements 

between neighboring jurisdictions, and, by law, the military forces cannot

respond to civilian calls or local requests off the base.

Religious Facilities

Religious facilities listed in Exhibit 6 include places of worship, regardless 

of the religious affiliation. Exhibit 7 includes cemeteries. 

 Accessed June 21, 2011 and personal communication with Sandy Schaefer, City of Lakewood 

Human Resources and Jennifer Lundberg on July 7, 2011.

17 University Place and Lakewood fire departments merged in March 2011. 

http://www.westpierce.org/About.asp?Page=History Accessed June 21, 2011. 18 Personal communication with Bernadette Moreland, HR Manager for the City of DuPont and 

Jennifer Lundberg via email on June 27, 2011. 
September 2012 Point Defiance Bypass Project

Page 30 Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report

Exhibit 6. Religious Facilities in the Study Area

Address City

Living Grace Church 106 South 28th Street Tacoma

St. Paul Lutheran Church 2553 Tacoma Avenue 

South

Tacoma

Holy Rosary Church 504 South 30th Street Tacoma

God’s Pentecostal Church 2501 Tacoma Avenue 

South

Tacoma

Christ Life Center Church 711 South 25th Street Tacoma

St. Joseph Catholic Church 608 South 34th Street Tacoma

New Covenant Pentecostal 2156 South “K” Street Tacoma

Sheridan Street Church of God 2303 South Sheridan 

Avenue

Tacoma

Jehovah’s Witnesses 2308 South Cushman 

Avenue

Tacoma

Victory Outreach Church 2150 South Cushman 

Avenue

Tacoma

Mt. Tabor Baptist Church 2302 South Alaska Street Tacoma

Tacoma Earth Religions Revival 2325 South Ash Street Tacoma

Unity of Tacoma 2102 South 23rd Street Tacoma

Destiny City Church 3102 South 23rd Street Tacoma

City Central 3630 South Cedar Street 

#A

Tacoma

Religious Facility Grace Place Church 3801 South Union Avenue 

#A

Tacoma

Greater Love CME Church 3403 South Proctor Street Tacoma

Tacoma United Pentecostal Church 3201 South 43rd Street Tacoma

Divine Revelation Fellowship 4502 South Union Avenue Tacoma

Cornerstone Community Church 5237 South Tacoma Way Tacoma

Warner Street Church of Christ 3362 South 54th Street Tacoma

The Door Christian Fellowship Church 5437 South Tacoma Way Tacoma

Puget Sound Christian Center 4020 South 56th Street Tacoma

International Bible Baptist Church of Washington 4602 South 55th Street #59 Tacoma

Galilee Missionary Baptist 5802 South Puget Sound 

Avenue

Tacoma

Visitation Church 3314 South 58th Street Tacoma

Vietnamese Baptist Church 6046 South Warner Street Tacoma

New Hope Christian Reformed 6202 South Tyler Street Tacoma

Grace Lutheran Church 6202 South Tyler Street Tacoma

Living Word Christian Church 6437 South Tacoma Way Tacoma

Green Pastures Presbyterian Church 3010 South 66th Street Tacoma

Hope Lutheran Church 7209 South Puget Sound 

Avenue

Tacoma

Assembly of God South Tacoma 7227 South Puget Sound 

Avenue

Tacoma
Point Defiance Bypass Project September 2012

Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report Page 31

Address City

Evangelical Reformed Church 7435 South Madison 

Street #A

Tacoma

Tacoma Trinity Church 7461 South Verde Street Tacoma

Christ Gospel Church-Tacoma 3909 Steilacoom Blvd 

Southwest

Tacoma

Soka Gakkai International – USA Buddhist temple 8815 South Tacoma Way 

#112

Tacoma

Bible Baptist Church – Tacoma 3403 92nd Street South Tacoma

Holiness Chapel 8801 34th Avenue South Tacoma

Good News Tacoma Church 10103 South Tacoma Way Lakewood

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church LCMS 10333 Bridgeport Way 

Southwest

Tacoma

Iglesia Ni Cristo 4205 108th Street 

Southwest

Tacoma

Lakeview Congregational Church 4606 108th Street 

Southwest

Lakewood

Victory Christian Ministries 4102 110th Street 

Southwest #G

Tacoma

Abundant Life Church 5219 111th Street 

Southwest

Lakewood

First Baptist Church 5400 112th Street 

Southwest

Lakewood

Lakewood Mission Baptist Church 12212 Pacific Hwy 

Southwest

Lakewood

New Testament Christian 7007 146th Street 

Southwest

Tacoma

Voice of Hope Adventist Church 8105 Washington Blvd 

Southwest

Lakewood

Tillicum Baptist Church 8415 Maple Street 

Southwest

Lakewood

Faith for Living Covenant Church 14814 Union Avenue Lakewood

Christian Fellowship House 8918 Rose Rd Southwest Lakewood

Exhibit 7. Cemeteries Located in the Study Area

Cemetery Address City

Tacoma Cemetery 4801 South Tacoma Way Tacoma

Oak Wood Cemetery in South Park near South Tacoma 

Way

South 

Tacoma

Tacoma Mausoleum and Mortuary 5302 South Junett Street Tacoma

Mountainview Memorial Park 4100 Steilacoom Blvd Southwest Lakewood
September 2012 Point Defiance Bypass Project

Page 32 Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report

Public Transportation

Public transportation locally and regionally includes bus, train, and trolley 

services as well as park-and-rides and vanpools. The public transportation 

organizations work together to increase public transportation usage. In the 

study area, these partnerships include Pierce Transit, Intercity Transit, 

King County Metro, Amtrak, and Sound Transit, as well as connections to 

Greyhound and other non-governmental transportation providers. 

Pierce Transit

Pierce Transit provides 52 Pierce Transit bus routes and eight Sound 

Transit routes within a 414-square mile area including the cities of 

Tacoma, Lakewood, and DuPont. In addition to bus service, Pierce Transit 

provides specialized transportation for people with disabilities, vanpool, 

park-and-ride lots (see Exhibit 8), and inter-county express commuter 

service in cooperation with King County Metro, Tacoma Link light rail, 

Sound Transit, and Intercity Transit.

Exhibit 8. Park-and-Ride Facilities Located in the Study Area

Park-and-Ride Lot Address City

Tacoma Dome Station 424 East 25th Street Tacoma

South Tacoma Station 5650 South Washington 

Street

Tacoma

I-5/SR 512 Park-and-Ride 10617 South Tacoma Way Tacoma

Sound Transit Lakewood Station 11424 Pacific Highway 

Southwest

Lakewood

Sound Transit

Sound Transit is the regional transit authority that operates bus and train 

service for Snohomish, King, and Pierce Counties. The Sound Transit 

express bus service is for longer bus trips between major cities and has 

limited stops. Tacoma Link is part of the light rail service in the region 

and serves 1.6 miles through downtown Tacoma. Sound Transit Sounder

commuter trains operate between Seattle and Lakewood, including the 

planned extension from Tacoma to Lakewood, as well as a route from 

Seattle to Everett. The Tacoma-Lakewood extension of the Sounder line 

includes parallel tracks that are part of the Project. 

Intercity Transit

Intercity Transit operates three commuter routes to the Tacoma and 

Lakewood area where connections can be made to the Sound Transit 

express bus or Sounder commuter rail service.
Point Defiance Bypass Project September 2012

Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report Page 33

What utility services are provided in the study area?

City of Tacoma

Tacoma Water is the water provider to the City of Tacoma.19 The Green 

River watershed near Stampede Pass in the Cascade Mountains is the 

primary source of water consisting of melting snow and collected rainfall. 

Tacoma Water also owns 24 wells pumping from underground aquifers as 

a secondary source of water.

Wastewater management is performed by the Tacoma Public Works 

Environmental Services Department.20 The City operates and maintains 

two wastewater treatment plants, 50 pump stations, and over 700 miles of 

sewer pipe. The Central Wastewater Treatment Plant is located to the 

north of the study area near the northern terminus of the Project. The 

North End Treatment Plant is located north of the project corridor. Treated 

effluent from both facilities is discharged into Commencement Bay.

Surface water is also managed by the Tacoma Public Works 

Department.21 It maintains 500 miles of storm drainage system including 

22,000 catch basins. To help prevent flooding, the City has developed 

detention facilities or holding basins such as the one on Flett Creek near 

the north end of the study area. Flett Creek is a system of lakes, ponds, and 

basins intended to hold surface flows and minimize local flooding. To the 

east of the study area are the Ward’s Lake and “Gravel Pit” detention 

facilities. 

Tacoma Power, a division of Tacoma Public Utilities, provides electricity 

to the City of Tacoma. Within the study area, the service area is the study 

area north of 80th Street.22 Electricity distributed by Tacoma Power is 

generated from several resources; however, 88 percent of the electricity is 

based on hydroelectric power.

Solid waste, recycling, and yard debris pick-up is handled by the Tacoma 

Solid Waste Management Division of the Public Works Environmental 

Services Department.23 The utility also manages the landfill, recycling 

center, and household hazardous waste facility.

Click!Network is the telecommunications division of Tacoma Power.24

Click!Network provides retail cable television, wholesale high-speed 

 19 http://www.mytpu.org/tacomawater/water-system/service-area/Default.htm Accessed June 20, 

2011. 

20 http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=1474 Accessed June 20, 2011. 21 http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?hid=924#Tacoma's Accessed June 20, 2011. 22 http://www.mytpu.org/files/library/tacoma-power-service_003.pdf. Accessed June 20, 2011. 23 http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=185 Accessed June 20, 2011 24 http://www.click-network.com/AboutUs/ClickFacts.aspx. Accessed June 20, 2011.
September 2012 Point Defiance Bypass Project

Page 34 Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report

internet over cable modem, and wholesale high-speed data services over 

fiber optics. Its system offers cable television, high-speed internet, and 

broadband services to residential and business customers in Tacoma. It 

also supports infrastructure for city government, including providing 

automated meter reading and advanced metering infrastructure.

The City of Tacoma, through Tacoma Rail, provides freight rail service 

along tracks owned by Sound Transit as well as connections through 

BNSF.25 This service includes track within the study area. 

City of Lakewood

Water facilities serving the City of Lakewood are constructed and 

maintained by Lakewood Water District.26 The Lakewood Water District 

maintains 248 miles of main line and pumps water from a deep 

underground aquifer. The 31 wells range in depth from 225-1,060 feet. 

The District also maintains 13 aboveground storage tanks with a 26-

million-gallon capacity.

Pierce County Public Works and Utilities provides the wastewater utility 

service for the City of Lakewood.27,28 However, some of the residential 

properties within the City remain on septic systems. The County maintains 

625 miles of sanitary sewer line, 94 pump stations, and the Chamber 

Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. 

Electricity for the City of Lakewood is provided by Tacoma Power, Puget 

Sound Energy (PSE), and Lakeview Light and Power.29

PSE provides natural gas service to residents and businesses in the City of 

Lakewood.30 PSE is a private, investor-owned utility with the 

responsibility for providing service to over 750,000 customers in a ninecounty service area.

There are three cable providers in the City of Lakewood: Click,31 AT&T, 

and Comcast.32 Telephone service is provided by Qwest. 

 25 http://www.mytpu.org/tacomarail/Default.htm Accessed June 20, 2011. 26 http://www.lakewood-water-dist.org/index.php?section=1 Accessed June 21, 2011 and 

http://www.cityoflakewood.us/community/living/frequently-called-numbers.html# Accessed June 

21, 2011.

27 Pierce County 2010. 28 http://www.cityoflakewood.us Accessed June 21, 2011 and 

http://www.cityoflakewood.us/community/living/frequently-called-numbers.html# Accessed June 

21, 2011.

29 http://www.cityoflakewood.us/community/living/frequently-called-numbers.html# Accessed June 

21, 2011.

30 http://pse.com/aboutpse/PseNewsroom/MediaKit/1213_service_area_map.pdf Accessed June 20, 

2011.

31 http://www.clickcabletv.com/CableTV/FAQs.aspx Accessed June 20, 2011.
Point Defiance Bypass Project September 2012

Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report Page 35

The Surface Water Management Division of the City of Lakewood 

manages surface water systems.33

Lakewood Refuse, a division of LeMay Inc., and Pierce County Refuse 

provide solid waste and recycling services for the residents of the City.34

Joint Base Lewis McChord

JBLM maintains its own utility infrastructure including water, sewer, and 

storm drainage. The base also provides those services to Camp Murray. 

Joint Base McChord manages its utility services separate from Joint Base 

Lewis. Electricity and gas service is provided by PSE. Cable television is 

provided by Qwest and Comcast. Solid waste collection service is 

provided by LeMay – Waste Management.35

City of DuPont

The City of DuPont is responsible for the maintenance and operations of 

all City infrastructure including water and storm drainage.36 Wastewater 

services are provided by Pierce County Public Works and Utilities.37

Electricity is provided by PSE, as is natural gas service. Solid waste 

collection is handled by Pierce County Refuse or LeMay, Inc. Telephone 

service is provided by Qwest, and Comcast provides cable television and 

internet service.38

Tacoma Amtrak Station

The existing Tacoma Amtrak Station is located about two blocks northeast 

of the proposed Tacoma Dome Station at Freighthouse Square. The 

existing Tacoma Amtrak Station is located adjacent to the BNSF mainline. 

The proposed Tacoma Dome Station at Freighthouse Square Station is 

currently used by Sound Transit for the Sounder commuter train service

 32 http://www.cityoflakewood.us/community/living/frequently-called-numbers.html# Accessed June 

21, 2011. 

33 http://www.cityoflakewood.us/departments.html#p,/departments/public-works/surface-watermanagement-division.html Accessed June 20, 2011. 34 http://www.lemayinc.com/Pierce%20Co/welcome_pierce.html Accessed June 20, 2011 and 

http://www.cityoflakewood.us/community/living/frequently-called-numbers.html# Accessed June 

21, 2011.

35 Personal communication by Jennifer Lundberg with JBLM Lewis Main Housing Office on June 

21, 2011. 

36 http://www.ci.dupont.wa.us/public-works/index.html Accessed June 21, 2011. 37 Pierce County 2010 38 Personal communication between Jennifer Lundberg and City Hall receptionist on June 21, 

2011. 
Point Defiance Bypass Project September 2012

Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report Page 37

Chapter 5 – Potential Project Effects

Project effects include operational, indirect, and cumulative. Operational 

effects include temporary or construction-related effects and permanent or 

operational effects. Indirect effects occur distant in place or time from the 

project corridor. Cumulative effects are the sum of the direct and indirect 

effects of the Project on a resource when taken in consideration with past 

and other reasonably foreseeable actions or projects. 

How were effects identified?

Potential effects to public services were identified through review and 

coordination with other disciplines and specifically with the Point 

Defiance Bypass Project Transportation Discipline Report. The potential 

for disruption or delays in service as well as potential decreases or 

increases in demand for services was examined. 

FRA and WSDOT coordinated with Sound Transit to identify which 

utility relocations have already occurred and to update the previous list of 

potential utility conflicts. Sound Transit has completed utility relocations 

at Bridgeport Way Southwest and north to Freighthouse Square in 

Tacoma. Potential effects to utilities south of, but not including, 

Bridgeport Way Southwest are still being assessed but preliminary 

information is provided below. 

Effects related to the relocation of the Tacoma Amtrak Station to the 

Tacoma Dome Station at Freighthouse Square were identified through 

coordination with other disciplines. 

What direct effects on public services and utilities were 

identified?

Construction Effects

Construction effects are minor and temporary in nature. No indirect effects 

were identified for public services and utilities. Because most of the 

Project route is located in a separate right-of-way from general traffic, 

most construction delays would occur during intersection construction 

with little to no effect to public services during track upgrades outside of 

intersections with roadways. 
September 2012 Point Defiance Bypass Project

Page 38 Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report

Emergency vehicles (fire trucks, police vehicles, and ambulances) and 

school and public buses are likely to experience some delays due to 

construction lane closures and other typical construction-related traffic. 

There may be minor delays through construction areas for emergency 

response vehicles (specifically ambulances) and people accessing medical 

facilities, including Saint Clare Hospital, Madigan Army Medical Center, 

and associated health and social services facilities.

Access to public facilities located within the active construction zone may 

be affected by either lane closures or increased traffic congestion, which 

may result in increased travel times to some facilities during construction. 

These effects would be temporary and of short duration so long-term 

behavior would not be affected. No construction effects are anticipated for

cemetery and religious facility access.

Sound Transit is completing all necessary track and intersection upgrades 

from Bridgeport Way Southwest in Lakewood north to the northern 

terminus of the Project in Tacoma. The upgrades include resolving utility 

relocations. FRA and WSDOT has identified potential conflicts, although 

the need for relocations, hardening, and deepening has not been finalized. 

Locations for potential effects on utilities would include intersections with 

roadways and where utilities cross under or over the tracks. Effects on 

public utilities would not include effects outside of roadway intersections 

because the railroad right-of-way currently exists and no excavation is 

planned other than to refresh the ballast, railroad ties, and tracks, and clear 

drainage ditches in the southern portion of the Project. These activities are 

similar to maintenance activities. 

Exhibit 9 and Exhibit 10 list the identified potential utility conflicts in the 

right-of-way and at intersections. 
Point Defiance Bypass Project September 2012

Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report Page 39

Exhibit 9. Potential Utility Conflicts in Right of Way

Utility Location Type of Utility Buried or Overhead

Rail MP 10.4 to Rail MP 21.5 running 

along the rail line at various 

distances from the center line of 

track

Fiber Optic X3 Buried, and to be relocated at 

various locations to be 

determined

Rail MP 11.17 Water Buried

Rail MP 11.72 Telephone Buried

Rail MP 14.95 Storm Drainage Buried

Sanitary Sewer Buried

Rail MP 15.56 Water Buried

Rail MP 15.65 Sanitary Sewer Buried

Rail MP 15.85 Water Buried

Rail MP 15.90 Sanitary Sewer Buried

Rail MP 15.98 Storm Drainage Buried

Rail MP 16.66 Water Buried

Telephone Buried

Rail MP 16.70 Natural Gas Buried

Rail MP 16.94 Sanitary Sewer Buried

Rail MP 16.97 Natural Gas Buried

Rail MP 17.40 Storm Drainage Buried

Rail MP 17.70 Sanitary Sewer Buried

Rail MP 18.20 Telephone Buried

Exhibit 10. Potential Utility Conflicts at Intersections

Intersection Type of Utility Buried or Overhead?

Clover Creek Drive Southwest Water Buried

Natural Gas Buried 4-inch line

Power Buried and Overhead

Cable Buried

Telephone Buried and Overhead

North Thorne Lane Southwest Power Buried and Overhead

Telephone Overhead

Berkeley Street Power Buried and Overhead

41st Division Drive Power Buried and Overhead

Telephone Buried

Barksdale Avenue Power Buried

Natural Gas Buried

Storm Drainage Buried

Telephone Buried
September 2012 Point Defiance Bypass Project

Page 40 Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report

If utility conflict occurs, FRA and WSDOT would relocate utilities within 

the railroad right-of-way at the time of construction. Minor disruptions in 

utility service may occur during construction. However, to avoid or 

minimize utility disruption, FRA and WSDOT would coordinate with 

utility purveyors, implement strategies and provide public notification of 

service interruptions or disruptions.

Construction effects related to Freighthouse Square include parking and 

possible intersection and/or driveway construction and construction to 

upgrade the Freighthouse Square Station. Utilities to Freighthouse Square 

may need to be upgraded and/or expanded to support the needs of the 

terminal. These upgrades may require temporary lane closures and other 

disruptions to the nearby roads.

Operational Effects

Schools

Delays due to train traffic associated with the Project are likely to be 

minimal. Amtrak would operate seven daily round trips (total of 14 trains; 

12 Cascades trains, and two Coast Starlight trains) through the study area, 

with up to two trains going through Lakewood during peak travel times. 

School bus routes and people driving to schools that cross the Project 

corridor could experience delays, but these delays are anticipated to be 

minimal because the roadway is closed to vehicle traffic for less than one 

minute when an Amtrak train passes through an at-grade crossing. 

Intersections typically clear within one to two cycles of the traffic signal. 

For more detail on the delays and queues at the at-grade crossings, please 

refer to the Point Defiance Bypass Transportation Discipline Report.

39

Police and Fire

Fire and police response times could be affected, although they have the 

ability to pass through intersections before other traffic when using lights 

and sirens. In the event that crossing gates were down for an expected 

Amtrak train pass-by, an emergency vehicle could be delayed for less than 

one minute. However, normal train operations are not anticipated to affect 

fire and police response times.

A track or train malfunction causing a train to block an intersection for an 

indefinite period could affect response times for fire and police vehicles. 

This has been noted as a concern in the Lakewood to DuPont portion of 

the Project due to the limited number of ingress/egress points to the local 

neighborhoods, such as Springbrook and American Lake Gardens. 

However, the length of the Amtrak train is short enough to not block more 

than one crossing, leaving access open to all neighborhoods from at least 

 39 WSDOT 2011a
Point Defiance Bypass Project September 2012

Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report Page 41

one location but possibly requiring a detour or reroute. There are grade 

separated ingress/egress routes throughout the Project corridor that are less 

likely to be closed due to track or train malfunctions. Since the crossing in 

DuPont is grade separated, it would not be affected. The frequency of 

track or train malfunctions is low; the probability of this occurrence, 

coupled with an emergency situation, is extremely low and therefore is not 

anticipated to affect fire and police response times. 

Public Transit

Public transit (bus) operations would be affected in the same way as 

school buses and passenger vehicles. There may be short delays (e.g., 

waiting for one to two signal cycles) at an at-grade crossing when a train 

passes through it. 

Hospitals

Emergency vehicles accessing Saint Clare Hospital or Madigan Army 

Medical Center would possibly be affected by delays at the 108th Street 

Southwest, Bridgeport Way Southwest, North Thorne Lane Southwest, 

and Berkeley Street Southwest crossings when the passenger trains are 

passing. Similar to fire and police responses, ambulances have the ability 

to pass through intersections as soon as the safety gate is raised or the 

lights stop flashing and would not have to wait through one to two traffic 

signal cycles, as would regular traffic. Delays can also be expected for 

people in personal vehicles traveling to medical or social services facilities 

near the hospitals. Most intersections would recover within one to two 

traffic signal cycles, and emergency vehicles would be given crossing 

preference; therefore there is a minor effect. 

Utilities

No operational effects on utilities are anticipated because there are 

sufficient procedures in place to ensure utility owners have access to their 

infrastructure where it is located within the railroad right-of-way. Utility 

providers are currently capable of meeting service demands and the 

Project would not change the demand for existing utilities. 

What indirect and cumulative effects on public services 

and utilities were identified?

Indirect Effects

The Project is located within an existing rail corridor and urbanized area. 

The only potential indirect effect tied to the Project is that it may 

indirectly influence limited redevelopment near the relocated Amtrak 
September 2012 Point Defiance Bypass Project

Page 42 Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report

Station at Freighthouse Square (see Land Use Discipline Report40). Such 

redevelopment is not anticipated to increase the demand for existing 

public services or utilities beyond their service capacity. Thus, the Project 

would not have an indirect effect on public services or utilities.

Cumulative Effects

The project would not affect demand for or capacity of public services. 

Thus, the Project would not contribute to a cumulative effect on these 

resources. According to FRA and WSDOT analysis, there would be a 

slight beneficial cumulative effect throughout the project corridor since 

the improvements that would be made to the intersection signals would 

not otherwise occur for both the opening year of the Project and the 

horizon year of 2030. The Transportation Discipline Report41 provides a 

detailed evaluation of the existing and potential operational effects to the 

intersections within the Point Defiance Bypass corridor.

 

40 WSDOT 2012a

41 WSDOT 2012b
Point Defiance Bypass Project September 2012

Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report Page 43

Chapter 6 – Recommended 

Minimization Measures

As noted previously, no significant effects on public services and utilities 

are anticipated. This chapter provides Best Management Practices (BMPs) 

that could be applied during construction and operation to minimize the 

Project’s effects.

What minimization is required for the No Build Alternative?

No minimization is proposed under the No Build Alternative since there 

would be no effects on public services or utilities.

What minimization is required for the Build Alternative?

The following minimization measures for the Build Alternative 

predominantly focus on minimization of potential construction and 

operational effects:

• Prior to construction, notify transit agencies and school districts of 

lane closures, detours, and other traffic alterations in order to 

minimize delays. 

• Coordinate with emergency service organizations to develop an 

emergency response plan and have procedures in place prior to 

construction. Notify emergency response providers of construction 

plans and schedules in advance, including lane closures, detours, 

and other traffic alterations to minimize increases in delayed 

response times.

• Notify and coordinate with fire departments for water line 

relocations that could temporarily cause a disruption in service, 

reduce flow, or establish alternative sources of water supply in 

case of an emergency during breaks in service.

• Coordinate with utility purveyors to confirm conflicts, implement 

strategies to avoid or minimize service disruptions, and provide 

public notification of service interruptions or disruptions. 

Coordinate any necessary agreements or other documents 

necessary for identified utility relocations. 

• Minimize or avoid overlapping construction schedules by the 

various utility service providers that would increase the risk and 

frequency of public service and utility interruptions. Limit the 
September 2012 Point Defiance Bypass Project

Page 44 Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report

number and duration of utility outages affecting both business and 

residential customers.

• Post clear signage alerting workers to the presence of overhead 

power, telephone, or cable lines to help prevent accidental 

interference or damage during construction.

• Post construction schedules near affected crossings and provide the 

information to local newspapers for publication or to the local 

jurisdictions for distribution by mail to residents and businesses in

the area. Project updates, including construction schedules, would 

be posted on FRA or WSDOT’s Project website. 

Effects related to operation of the Project involve potential traffic delays, 

safety, and access problems at intersections. Refer to the Transportation 

Discipline Report42 for a discussion of the transportation-related

minimization for safety and travel time delays.

 42 WSDOT 2011a
Point Defiance Bypass Project September 2012

Public Services and Utilities Discipline Report Page 45

References

Pierce County 2010. Unified Sewer Plan Update. Pierce County Public Works 

and Utilities – Sewer Utility. December 2010. 

WSDOT 2007. Point Defiance Bypass Project Public Services and Utilities 

Technical Memorandum. August 2007

WSDOT 2009. Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor Tier 1 Environmental 

Assessment. Available at: 

http://wadot.wa.gov/Freight/publications/PNWRCReports.htm

WSDOT 2011a. Point Defiance Bypass Project Preliminary Draft Transportation 

Discipline Report. September 2011

WSDOT 2011b. Point Defiance Bypass Project Preliminary Draft Socioeconomic 

and Environmental Justice Discipline Report. September 2011. 

WSDOT 2011c. Point Defiance Bypass Project Draft Land Use Discipline Report. 

September 2011.

WSDOT 2012a. Point Defiance Bypass Project Land Use Discipline Report.

September 2012.

WSDOT 2012b. Point Defiance Bypass Project Transportation Discipline Report. 

September 2012.